Halloween activity brings thoughts of Flintstones

NEIGHBORS

October 27, 1993|By BONITA FORMWALT

Halloween 1993.

My sons are arguing over who thought up the idea of trick or treating as a couple of dead guys. My thoughts drift back to the Halloween of my youth.

Oct. 29, 1967: Mom takes me to Read's drugstore to buy a Halloween costume. Having waited until the last minute, our choices are limited to Wilma Flintstone or Ringo. Sensing the turmoil about to beset the Fab Four, I opt for the stability of Hanna-Barbera.

Oct. 31: The argument that corduroy slacks will ruin the prehistoric lines of the costume is dismissed. It doesn't really matter -- eventually the entire nylon costume is concealed by a winter coat, with only a plastic Wilma necklace peeking out above my fake fur collar.

Parental concerns about my safety inspire my mother to enlarge eye holes in the plastic face mask to the size of dinner plates. Even with the added ventilation, I begin to sweat profusely and mask ends up on top of my head, the elastic string pulling my hair out by the roots.

With no paper-or-plastic option, I hit the streets with my shopping bag in hand. Total strangers give me candy. I'm in heaven! The nasty man on the corner who throws rocks at my dog every morning gives me a box of Dots! Soon Milky Way bars, Ju-Ju-Bees and those hard, dusty little pieces of bumble gum overflow my sack.

Back to reality, 1993. I open my eyes. There on the counter are neat little packages of stickers and pencils I had intended to distribute to trick-or-treaters. Sighing, I retrieve my secret stash of Mounds bars and add them to the bags.

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On Sunday afternoon, mid-town Glen Burnie will be swarming with witches, ghosts and skeletons for the annual Halloween Safety Party at 1 p.m. at the intersection of Crain Highway and Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard. Every child attending will receive a trick-or-treat bag filled with candies and surprises.

Children ages 12 and younger are invited to participate in the costume parade and contest. Participants in the contest will be divided into four age groups: 2 and younger, 3 to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. Prizes will be awarded for the prettiest costume, the most original and the scariest/ugliest. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. from the main stage.

Contestants can register this week at the Marley Station Mall customer service desk. Registration will also be accepted from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the party.

Entertainment has been scheduled throughout the afternoon on two stages. Clowns, stilt-walkers and jugglers will wander through the crowds, talking with children and posing for photos. Appearances are planned by McGruff the Crime Dog, Sparky the Fire Dog, the D.A.R.E. Bear, King Arthur, Smokey Bear and Country Dinos.

Sunday's party is sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Marley Station Mall and the Sun for Anne Arundel.

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Junior high Sunday school students from Holy Trinity Catholic Church will spend five hours on Sunday earning money, food and personal necessities to be donated to the North County Emergency Outreach Network.

"Fun Fest for Food" is a pledge-a-thon of sorts, said Joy Wilburt, junior high administrator of religious education for Holy Trinity. Family members and friends of the students donate non-perishable food and personal products for each hour the students participate. The food will be used to stock the shelves of the community food bank.

Arundel Habitat for Humanity reached a milestone last Saturday when Jamie Ebert picked up a a hammer and became the 2,000th volunteer to participate in the program.

A nonprofit organization, Habitat works in partnership with selected families to help them become homeowners.

Jamie volunteered as part of a work commitment made by the junior-senior high youth group at her church, Harundale Presbyterian. An eighth-grader at Marley Middle School, she arrived at the Wendover Road building site in Marley with more enthusiasm than actual construction experience. She caught on fast and spent the day putting up vinyl siding.

"I've never sided a house," Jamie admitted. "But I like helping people. I don't like the thought of people living on the streets."

Construction on the Wendover Road house is expected to continue every Saturday through December. Volunteers interested in assisting with the project can call 267-8430 for additional information.

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Children in the Parke West community can enjoy a Halloween Party from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Recreation Area I on Parkland Drive.

Activities include a parade, games, costume judging, prizes and refreshments, courtesy of the Parke West Homeowner's Association.